The British Council’s Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia (AELLCA) programme is a transformative initiative designed to enhance English language teacher education and professional development across five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Through the programme, we work with local governments and partners in all five countries as part of their efforts to improve education quality and inclusivity locally and across the region.
Programme objectives
Funded by the UK government through UK International Development, AELLCA is part of the Accelerating Education Attainment for Resilience – Central Asia (AEAR-CA) programme. This initiative strengthens education systems with a focus on teacher competency, quality assurance and English language development, in line with the national education reform priorities of all five countries.
By integrating UK expertise with local insights, the British Council is fostering significant advancements in teaching practices and student outcomes.
Why English proficiency matters
Governments in all five countries recognise the critical role of English proficiency in fostering economic and social development. AELLCA addresses this priority by modernising teaching curricula, introducing innovative methodologies and providing ongoing professional development for teachers. These efforts contribute to more inclusive and higher-quality education systems across the region.
Programme activities
AELLCA includes a range of initiatives designed to transform English language education:
- Online trainer training course: The Assured Certificate in Teacher Education (ACTE), awarded by City and Guilds, is delivered to pre-service and in-service educators, building a network of English Language Teaching (ELT) professionals across Central Asia.
- English and inclusion accelerator scheme: Seven collaborative partnerships between UK and Central Asian higher education institutions are being established to advance English teacher education, creating sustainable and scalable solutions for the future.
- Study visits to the UK: Participants from Central Asia will have the opportunity to visit the UK, together with participants from the other programme countries, to gain insights into effective school-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) practices, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building.
- Regional scoping studies: In Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, a scoping study conducted with UK consultants NILE is mapping current CPD practices and providing actionable recommendations for establishing teacher-led, needs-driven CPD cultures within schools.
Country-specific initiatives
In addition to regional activities, AELLCA implements targeted programmes in individual countries:
Uzbekistan
- Integration of CPD into the PRESETT (pre-service teacher training) curriculum to enhance student and teacher training and pilot innovative approaches in 20 institutions.
- Expansion of our CPD induction programme to 61 additional schools from the current 55 schools. This includes training CPD champions, mentoring and strengthening school-based professional development practices, in collaboration with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Preschool and School Education.
- Development of a CPD framework in partnership with the Avloniy Institute, including the training of 14 national trainers to implement the programme across 14 regional branches.
Kazakhstan
In collaboration with the Orleu National Training Centre, AELLCA delivers ELT course designer training to develop effective teacher training systems and resources tailored to regional needs.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
A scoping study on CPD practices, conducted with UK consultants NILE, will map the current landscape of English teacher development. The study will provide actionable recommendations for establishing teacher-led, needs-driven CPD cultures within schools.
Impact and vision
By combining decades of international experience with local insights, AELLCA seeks to elevate English language education across Central Asia. Through its systemic approach to curriculum enhancement, teacher training and capacity building, the programme is poised to deliver lasting improvements in educational quality and inclusivity.